BuzzFeed had an article by Alex Klein come out on January 15 entitled “Is Scientology Self-Destructing?” I’ve been out sick recently, so with little to do but sit at the computer I’ll read almost anything, so I took a look. And, what do you know — Orange County figures prominently in it! Over at his joint, friend-of-the-blog Gustavo Arellano squeezed out a squib about a New Yorker story on January 24 by Tony Ortega reporting that OC’s former Scientologists Luis and Rocio Garcia of Irvine were suing the church for fraud (among other things) in Clearwater, Florida, home of its headquarters. That was good, but the BuzzFeed story is, how shall we say it, a lot more juicy and has better pictures.

That place could house a LOT of homeless people. I’m just sayin’. And if they’re not using much of it….

I only get to quote four paragraphs within Fair Use, so you’ll want to head to that top link for much more. The Garcia’s story is only one of several recounted there, but it’s the one with the most obvious interest to those of us in OC. The premise of the story is that the “Ideal Org” buildings, like the one in a former Masonic Lodge in Santa Ana, are basically scams to pump money out of church members to enrich the close group of Church members around church leader David Miscavige. The idea is that the buildings are essentially a “Potemkin Village” designed to give the impression that the religion is expanding — and therefore needs and deserves more money. The coverage of the opening of the Santa Ana church site by the Weekly’s John Dulaney doesn’t do anything to disabuse the notion that it’s just there for show; Garcia is quoted saying that the building’s 65,000 square feet of space houses only six employees. (Hey, OC Supervisors — if you’re looking for a good homeless shelter….)

Let’s go to the story:

In Orange County, California, the central church’s Ideal Org hopes hinged on one man: Luis Garcia, a two-decade veteran of the church, much-respected among the flock. Garcia had reached Operating Thetan VIII and given thousands to the church’s “charitable works.” He was a familiar face, the owner of a small but successful local printshop. He even helped run the fundraising drive; he can rattle off balance sheets in a pinch.

When the fundraisers first arrived in 2003, he agreed to give $100,000 to remodel the existing building. The central church had found an opening. “They used that initial donation to set up an event,” bringing in around 400 local Scientologists. “A lot of people … got up and started donating.” The combined haul: about $300,000, according to Garcia. But soon, “something changed,” Garcia says. “They now said they needed a new building, with more than 45,000 square feet.” From 2003 to 2006, the drive continued. Garcia gave $50,000 more — but that wasn’t enough. “They came after me three to four times a day,” he says, asking for an additional $350,000. They came directly to his house, called him at work, deluged him with letters — and eventually, threatened his marriage.

In 2006, Garcia said no. Like DePhillips, he was frustrated: When would the church actually break ground? When could he bring friends and converts to the building he had helped buy? Garcia asked too many questions, stalled for too long. The church filed a “Knowledge Report” with the Ethics Department: a letter alleging that Garcia’s wife was stonewalling the purchase. “If they had labeled my wife suppressive,” he says. “I would have had to make a choice: Stay with my wife or stay with the church.” He ended up donating $510,000.

The story goes into some detail about the financing of the “Ideal Org.” Garcia, based on his time involved in the fundraising drive, says that about 30% of the money went directly to the Church’s Gold Base in Riverside, CA, where it would be used for the high-profit-margin books, emotional testing devices, and other frou-frou familiar to students from college campuses. (Kids! Stay away from that crap!) But some of the most interesting comes when Garcia tries to discover what happened to the money pumped out of him and other donors.

Garcia showed up personally at the office of the Orange County Treasurer-Tax Collector, asking for a copy of all the building’s documents. Ever since that shiny new church took so much of his and his co-parishioners’ money, he’s been trying to hunt down where exactly it went. He’s an obsessive numbers guy. But the books are closed. Scientology is a federally recognized religion, a 501c(3) exempt from corporate disclosure requirements.

One thing did come out, though: information that the Ideal Org is highly delinquent on its property taxes, from which it is not exempt, to the tune of over $50,000. So, the notion of taking over the building and turning it into a most excellent homeless shelter may not be as far-fetched as you might think! As I said, read the BuzzFeed story.

About Greg Diamond

Prolix worker's rights and government accountability attorney and General Counsel of CATER. His anti-corruption work in Anaheim infuriated the Building Trades and Teamsters in spring 2014, leading them to work with the Democratic Party of Orange County Chair and other co-conspirators (who had long detested the internal oversight his presence provided) to remove him from the position of DPOC North Vice Chair of in violation of party rules and any semblance of due process. He also runs for office sometimes.
Unless otherwise specifically stated, none of his writings prior to that lawless putsch ever spoke for the Democratic Party at the local, county, state, national, or galactic level. He tries to either suppress or openly acknowledge his partisan, issue, ideological, and "good government" biases in most of his writing here. If you have a question about any particular writing, just ask him about it and (unless you are an pseudonymous troll) he will probably answer you at painful length.
He lives in Beautiful Bountiful Brea, but while he may brag about it he generally doesn't blog about it. A family member works as a campaign treasurer for candidates including Wendy Gabriella in AD-73; he doesn't directly profit from that relatively small compensation and it doesn't affect his coverage. He does advise some campaigns informally and (except where noted) without compensation.

The individual compiling the info states,
“The Admissions were very important to me in my getting free of the web of lies Hubbard and $cientology had spun, and getting free of their domination and suppression. I am posting these writings now with the prayer that they help to free other $cientologists from Hubbard’s and Miscavige’s lies, domination and
suppression. If Hubbard has been humbled and regained his willfully lost humanity, I know he too would want every $cientologist to read all his Admissions.”

I took a couple of “classes” at the Scientology Church when I lived in San Francisco. This was during my “what are they doing in that church” period. I went to different churches weekly and wanted to know exactly what they were talking about and doing. I went to the Scientlogy Church one weekend and was persuaded to read Dianetics (which is an “ok” book, but I find it more a psychology style book, not religion..but I don’t make the rules) Then I did pay for 2 classes and watch their introductory video…to better myself, but for me the clencher was when I attended a meeting and at the end we all had to stand up and salute the bust of L. Ron Hubbard’s and act like it was really him. I started laughing and got in trouble, then when I told them I had to use the bathroom I was escorted to the facility by a member. I was not allowed to roam the halls without a chaparone. Then I stopped going and I was inundated with mail and phone calls trying to get me to come back for over a year.

As for them being accused of fraud, my guess is they are one of many mega-style churches who do that on a regular basis. Don’t they all persuade their flock to donate at least 10% of their hard earned money so they can be told how to live their lives and get the keys to the pearly gates? Didn’t the Catholic church threaten to ex-communicate some elected officials in the past for publicly speaking against their policies?

By the way I am a certified, bonafied minister that comes with all the rights and privilages…it says so on the badge I received from the Universal Life Church after I sent them a dollar. I am always accepting donations!

I never said ‘all’…I said many and if you want to see some right here in So-Cal just turn on cable t.v. Sunday mornings and late night and watch all the television evangelists sell…a-hem…give away an ounce of sealed magical holy water to those willing to donate money to them. How about the Crystal Cathedral? They had their own scandal to deal with and infighting, now the Catholic Diocese is getting them out of their financial jam.

I agree donating 10% is a choice but so many of these so-called churches have a way of tactitly threatening their challengers. I think Scientology makes them sign billion year contracts. How stupid is that? I think anyone and everyone is free to believe anything they choose as long as they don’t try to rule my life with their dogma. How many different churches have you visited? I mean those not Protestant? You may be a bit surprised.

I’d be the first to condemn the charlatans and con artists who subvert their faith…that is true of any religion. But it is illogical to paint an entire faith as fraudulent, whatever that faith may be, because of some bad apples.

If that’s the standard you apply to everything, there’s nothing, and nobody, one can believe in.

Inge

Posted January 27, 2013 at 8:17 PM

Anon, oh I see the “all” part that you seem to be hung up on. And yes they do all want your money and 10% is correct. How else can they stay in business???? They want people to officially join their church. And yes…the theme of Christians is “my way or the highway”…believe that Jesus died for your sins and accept him as your lord and Savior or face the fires of Hell. Yeah, I know that speech.

I already said I don’t care what people believe…whatever helps them make it through this life. And it isn’t fraudulent to persons who believe it…even if others think the church is stealing. Its all subjective isn’t it? Greg wrote that the Scientology Church doesn’t have to show its books because its a church. Its up to each person to decide if they want to stay. As for Garcia, I think he’s stupid for giving all that money…why? because he was afraid of the consequences.

anon

Posted January 27, 2013 at 8:52 PM

Again, “all” churches do not want 10% of your money. That is just patently untrue. And you’re undercutting your credibility the longer you spout that falsehood.

Inge

Posted January 29, 2013 at 2:19 PM

Anon,
I am sure you already know but there are at least 100s of different Bibles out there and they are “open” to interpretation depending on the reader.

I am sure you are also aware that pagans were considered to be part of early Christianity.

Lets not forget the about the “lost books” of the Bible — the ones that didn’t make the final cut. We have no idea what those authors wrote. Ther could have been something magical going on. And how about the Vaticans library that the public is not allowed to see???

As for tithing; mega churches don’t become mega without huge donations from their members. It can come in the form of contributing to a purchase new building like the Scientology did in Santa Ana. Newsong, a mega church in Irvine tried to buy the Santora building last year. They have millions of dollars to expand. Where do you think they get their money from? Tithing, contributions, or whatever you want to call it, are tacitly expected from their flock.

I guess the word or idea of fraud is in the eye of the beholder or believer.

Demagogue,
Wasn’t Pat Robertson involved in diamond smuggling years ago??? Yes, he probably is a sociopath and apparently a shrewd businessman, according to his bank statements.

By the way…tithing (giving 10%) is actually mentioned in the Old Testament and it’s a doctrine still practiced by some Christian denominations.

Asking people to send in money for magical holy water is NOT mentioned in the Bible.

See the difference? Apples and oranges.

Demagogue

Posted January 27, 2013 at 6:46 PM

My agent gets 10%.

He thinks he’s god.

anon

Posted January 27, 2013 at 7:15 PM

Clearly, your agent is a fraud.

Inge

Posted January 27, 2013 at 8:44 PM

Anon, have you read the entire Bible? How do you know what’s in it?

As for the magical holy water… I guess you don’t know when I am being sarcastic. The water is a free gift (I’m sure its Holy water; I threw in the magic part)… but I am sure they want you to make a donation to their church. It might be on tonight…always late night, so I will look for it. Maybe I’ll give them a call and see what they have to say.

And there’s another t.v. preacher that has people giving testimonies that this guy prayed for them…usually to get alot of money and they claim they got it when they gave him a donation. How convenient is that?

And then there’s Pat Robertson…don’t get me started about him.

anon

Posted January 27, 2013 at 8:54 PM

Actually, yes, I have read the entire Bible. That’s how I know what’s in it.

Demagogue

Posted January 27, 2013 at 9:27 PM

Inge, your sarcasm was not lost on me, and probably not on Anon either.

Now your dig at Pat Robertson, that better not be sarcasm! He’s a sociopath.

*Going to Church….is a very personal thing. The first Church we ever attended was
Christian Science Churh, then the Catholic Church, then the Methodist Church, then the Lutheran Church, then the Tim Timmons Marketing God is Fun Church and the list goes on and on. We have tried all of them.

The problem is: The Laity. After attending a religious retreat in Berchisgaden, Germany back in 1968…..we learned what the Laity was. It changed our life. Why? Because the Laity are the people that go to YOUR church. If you agree that they are all loving, giving, caring Christian Folks or Buddist or Yetti…….and you love all of them – you have met YOUR Laity. If the people you go to church with are horrendous hypocrites, nasty and small minded, worried only about themselves…and you don’t mind – you have met YOUR Laity and embraced them.

Sorry, I was over there again…I mean Cosmic Grand Co-Curators…I read their mission statement and I am wondering how they feel about assault weapons? Oh and all there icons, when clicked return to their mission statement. I guess their store isn’t up and running yet.

But seriously their mission statement is similar to Eastern philosophy….we are all one.

*Inge….thanks for cranking the hits on our Church of the Silver Surfer site……..right you are on all counts…… It’s a long story and some day we will tell it. In the meantime, we are looking for “The Grand Demur” and follow the basic Buddist philosophy….of “Live and Let Live”……with all due respect for Paul McCartney and Wings…that is…..

“Haldane himself had an inordinate fondness for the statement: he repeated it frequently. More often than not it had the addition: “God has an inordinate fondness for stars and beetles.” . . . Haldane was making a theological point: God is most likely to take trouble over reproducing his own image, and his 400,000 attempts at the perfect beetle contrast with his slipshod creation of man. When we meet the Almighty face to face he will resemble a beetle (or a star) and not Dr. Carey [the Archbishop of Canterbury].”